Terrorists plan major attack on Israel

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 |
by Staff Writer

Fatah may be gearing up for a showdown with its rival Hamas, but terror cells throughout the Gaza Strip are planning to align with Hamas for large-scale attacks against Israeli positions along the Gaza border in the coming days.

Terror leaders hope their plans for an imminent strike from Gaza through rockets, suicide bombers and tunnels will provoke a military response by the Israel Defense Forces. This would then unite Palestinians and thwart Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ attempt to dissolve the Hamas-controlled government.

Israeli and Palestinian security officials are aware of the potential showdown and have beefed up security along the Gaza border crossings.

“The Israelis have misunderstood the period of calm in the last few weeks and months. This was the calm before the storm,” Abu Abir, spokesman of the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees terror organization, told WorldNetDaily.

“We wish Israel will come in (to Gaza) in a bigger way because we will turn the entire area of the Israeli operation into a big cemetery filled with Zionist soldiers," he said.

The Popular Resistance Committee is an umbrella of several terror groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Islamic sections of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the “military wing” of Abbas' Fatah party, which carry out attacks at the command of Hamas.

Even though the US is putting pressure on Fatah leaders to take action, PA Chairman Abbas is in a predicament. He has the power to establish a three-month emergency government, temporarily dismantling Hamas and taking full reign of the government, but he fears severe clashes among Palestinian factions.

Proof of this came just last month when Hamas and Fatah engaged in a heavy battle in Gaza, Judea and Samaria after negotiations to establish a national unity government between the two fell through.

Even if Hamas does not follow through with its intended attacks, Israel is considering carrying out military operations in the Gaza Strip in the future to ensure its security.

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